Prevalence and Associated Factors of Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Cleaners Working at Mekelle University, Ethiopia

Figures & data

Figure 1 Schematic presentation of sampling procedure.

Table 1 Socio-Demographic/Individual Characteristics of Cleaners in Mekelle University, Ethiopia (n=264)

Variables		Frequency, n (%)	MSDs
			Yes (%)
Gender	Female	264 (100)	138 (52.3)
Age	<20 years	164 (62.1)	73 (44.5)
	21–25 years	62 (23.5)	37 (59.7)
	26–30 years	17 (6.7)	13 (76.5)
	≥30 years	21 (8)	15 (71.4)
Marital status	Married	38 (14.4)	19 (50)
	Single	212 (80.3)	107 (50.5)
	Separated	11 (4.2)	9 (81.8)
	Divorced	3 (1.1)	3 (100)
Religion	Orthodox	259 (98.1)	136 (52.5)
	Catholic	1 (0.4)	0 (0)
	Muslim	3 (1.1)	2 (66.7)
	Protestant	1 (0.4)	0 (0)
Level of education	Illiterate	15 (5.7)	8 (53.3)
	Primary school	70 (26.5)	42 (60)
	High school	100 (37.9)	50 (50)
	College and above	79 (29.9)	38 (48.1)
Experience	<6 months	123 (46.6)	47 (38.2)
	≥6months	141 (53.4)	91 (64.5)

Table 2 Annual Prevalence of MSDs on Psychosocial Factors and Behavioral Factors Among Cleaners Working at Mekelle University, Ethiopia (n=264)

Variables		MSDs
		Yes (%)	No (%)
Smoking	Yes	0 (0)	0 (0)
	No	138 (52.3)	126 (47.7)
Physical exercise	Yes	7 (21.2)	26 (78.8)
	No	131 (56.7)	100 (43.3)
Time pressure	Yes	53 (82.8)	11 (17.2)
	No	85 (42.5)	115 (57.5)
Emotional stress	Yes	20 (69)	9 (31)
	No	118 (50.2)	117 (49.8)
Job satisfaction	Low	95 (72)	37 (28)
	Average	37 (31.9)	79 (68.1)
	High	6 (37.5)	10 (62.5)
Job stress	Yes	103 (59.5)	70 (40.5)
	No	35 (38.5)	56 (61.5)
Feeling exhausted	Yes	106 (60.9)	68 (39.1)
	No	32 (35.6)	58 (64.4)
Additional benefits	Yes	1 (0.5)	0 (0)
	No	137 (52.1)	126 (47.9)

Table 3 Annual Prevalence MSDs on Mechanical and Work-Related/Ergonomic Factors Among Cleaners, Mekelle University, Ethiopia. (n=264)

Variables		Frequency (%)	MSDs
			Yes (%)
Working hours per day	< 8 hours	169 (64)	98 (58)
	≥ 8 hours	95 (36)	40 (42.1)
Working posture	Standing	20 (7.6)	16 (80)
	Sitting	15 (5.7)	12 (80)
	Bending	99 (37.5)	17 (17.2)
	Combination of movements	130 (49.2)	93 (7.5)
Awkward posture	Yes	165 (62.5)	121 (73.3)
	No	99 (37.5)	17 (17.2)
Overhead activities	Yes	175 (66.3)	102 (58.3)
	No	89 (33.7)	36 (40.4)
Working >2 hours in sustaining position	Yes	222 (84.1)	133 (59.9)
	No	42 (15.9)	5 (11.9)
Repeated movements (twisting/bending)	Yes	245 (92.8)	132 (53.9)
	No	19 (7.2)	6 (9.9)

Table 4 Bivariate and Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis of Factors Associated with MSDs Among Cleaners Working at Mekelle University, Ethiopia (n=264)

Variables		MSDs		COR (95% CI)	P-value	AOR (95% CI)	P-value
		Yes	No
Work experience	<6 months	47 (38.2)	76 (61.8)	1.00*
	≥6 months	91 (64.5)	50 (35.5)	0.34 (0.206–0.561)	0.00	2.5 (1.127–5.522)**	0.024
Physical exercise	Yes	7 (21.2)	26 (78.8)	1.00*
	No	131 (56.7)	100 (43.3)	4.9 (2.03–11.663)	0.00	0.54 (0.143–2.015)*	0.35
Time pressure	Yes	53 (82.8)	11 (17.2)	6.5 (3.213–13.224)
	No	85 (42.5)	115 (57.5)	1.00*	0.00	3.25 (1.084–9.777)**	0.035
Feeling exhausted	Yes	106 (60.9)	32 (35.6)	2.8 (1.666–4.792)
	No	68 (39.1)	58 (64.4)	1.00*	0.00	2.7 (1.161–6.203)**	0.021
Awkward posture	Yes	121 (73.3)	44 (26.7)	13.265 (7.093–24.806)
	No	17 (17.2)	82 (82.8)	1.00*	0.00	15.7 (6.47–38.176)**	0.00**
Working hours per day	<8 hours	98 (58)	71 (42)	1.00*
	≥8 hours	40 (42.1)	55 (57.9)	0.53 (0.317–0.877)	0.014	3.5 (1.543–8.204)**	0.003
Working >2 hours in	Yes	133 (59.9)	89 (40.1)	11.06 (4.18–29.221)
sustaining position	No	5 (11.9)	37 (88.1)	1.00*	0.00	8 (2.25–28.85)**	0.001

Notes: *Reference 1.00, **Statistically significant.

Abbreviation: COR, crude odds ratio; AOR, adjusted odds ratio.